Microchemical analysis of selenium in otoliths of two West Virginia fishes captured near mountaintop removal coal mining operations

Abstract

Otoliths, calcified inner ear structures, were collected from creek chubs (Semotilus atromaculatus) and green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) living in mountaintop mining-impacted and reference streams and analyzed for selenium (Se) content using laser ablation-inductively coupled mass spectrometry. Significant differences in otolith Se were found between the 2 fish species. Results from the present study suggest that a retrospective reconstruction of Se concentrations in muscle can be derived from Se concentrations in otoliths in creek chub but not green sunfish, exemplifying the importance of species differences when determining partitioning of Se among specific tissues. Green sunfish otoliths from all sites contained background (<1 μg/g) or low (1-4 μg/g) average concentrations of whole-otolith Se. In contrast, creek chub otoliths from the historically mined site contained much higher (≥5 μg/g) concentrations of Se than for the same species in the unmined site or for the green sunfish. These data suggest that body burdens of Se in fish can vary considerably over time and that both the timing of sampling and species choice could heavily influence Se assessments.

Mapping the yearly extent of surface coal mining in Central Appalachia using Landsat and Google Earth Engine

“…The ready supply of sulfuric acid, carbonate bedrock, and high surface-area spoil materials creates ideal conditions for some of the highest weathering rates in the world. The net weathering reactions generate alkaline mine drainage which is characterized by elevated ion concentrations of sulfate (SO 4 2- ), calcium (Ca 2+ ), magnesium (Mg 2+ ), bicarbonate (HCO 3 - ), and a suite of other elements including major aquatic pollutants like selenium (Se) [ 15 , 16 ]. The increased ion concentrations raise the mean specific conductance of water in mined streams from background values below ~200 to averages well over 1,000 μS/cm [ 15 ].…”

“…Throughout Central Appalachian streams, the physicochemical impacts from mining operations have been shown to decrease aquatic macroinvertebrate diversity [ 17 , 18 , 19 ], alter microbial communities [ 20 ], negatively impact fish [ 15 , 16 ], lower salamander abundance [ 21 ], and decrease stream leaf-litter breakdown rates [ 22 ]. In addition to these negative aquatic impacts, MTMVF has been shown to substantially increase the carbon cost of burning coal [ 23 ], fragment forest habitat [ 24 , 25 ], and elevate local surface temperature [ 24 ].…”